Bad steering rack leak has anyone replaced the seal ?

Believe what you want but at the dealership level the only Tundras that came in with problem racks were lifted trucks with larger tires. It's not a common problem but it was very rare to change a rack out on a stock truck.

 

that because its rare to buy a tundra and leave it stock

 

I have a steering boot that is full of fluid on my 2011 4x4. @papasmurf you say the racks are not rebuildable but I also saw the seal kit available to purchase. I'm confused...

 

Have a read.

https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/rack-and-pinion-rebuild.464913/

https://www.moogparts.eu/blog/rack-and-pinion-system-leak.html

 

That didn't tell me much. After I posted in this thread last night, I found the big steering rack thread on the forum and read that one. Seems more people are just replacing rather than rebuilding.

 

That was the direction I was trying to point you in. Been a tech for over 30 years and and no one changed just the seals. Always did the reman option.

 

Ah, I gotcha

 

If your changing the rack out Toyota manual says to remove the engine. The easiest way is to remove the front diff then the rack.

 

That's what I was reading over in the other thread. I'm not looking forward to this job but at least it will give me a good excuse to try to see what's going on with my bad front diff actuator.

 

One of the issues that I have come across is Heat-related, while we have a steering cooler, I don't believe it's enough cooling for our use. I modified mine to include a large external cooler. and yes Toyota did change the seals. I love when techs try and talk about their knowledge. I got bad news for you, we know people who work for toyota corp who have done the digging, they have a different manufacturer for racks due to seal failures.

I appreciate your comments but were all here to help not bash and comment shit based on narrow use knowledge

 

I agree with Bruce
https://youtu.be/R1ftFufZ344

 

We have never just changed the seals on a rack at the dealership. I never said it couldn't be done, it just not cost effective.

 

Think something got lost here. Believe Bruce is stating the seals have been updated in newer versions of the rack to address the issue, and agrees with replacing vs. repair. Seals can be replaced, looked into it for trail repairs, but not realistic. The one that fails is buried deep in the rack. Could be wrong though.

 

Sorry I didn't explain it well, but Dave you are 100% correct, on all statements above

 

My steering rack is being replaced right now at the dealership... 3,000 miles FYI. No offroading whatsoever.

I can't remember what part they said failed, but they wouldn't fix it, just a straight replacement.

 

It's not a.common problem but seems to happen more on lifted trucks.

 

Lucky you. At least yours failed during warranty coverage so you don’t have to suffer through the work yourself!

 

just got it back and it sounds and feels amazing. hopefully it doesn't take a crap again

 

Do you have a lift?

 

I have a 3/2 level

 

Hopefully this one lasts longer. The longevity is only slightly compromised with the lift but the higher you go the shorter the lifespan of the rack.

 

I have, with tons of help, replaced my steering rack in the middle of the desert. Believe me, the engine does not have to come out. The front diff does. Working in the sand we had everything torn apart and put back together with roughly 13hrs in labor.

 

In my driveway I can get it done in about 6-7 hrs tops lol

 

First time always takes the longest!

For those wondering, my rack blew at 213k miles and my truck has Bilstein 5100s set to 1 or 1.5” of front lift. Don’t remember which setting they’re on